Have you had your chimney swept this year! The chances are NO you have not. We seem to start our fires earlier each year and have them go on for longer as winter somehow feels as though it is arriving earlier and it is much colder than the previous year. With this in mind you should ensure that if you have a solid fuel burning appliance or an open fire it is swept at least once a year preferably every six months. If you do not have your chimney swept every year you and your family could be in serious danger of Carbon Monoxide poisoning. Our brains and muscles need oxygen to function normally but carbon monoxide is a highly toxic gas that stops the blood carrying the oxygen to our brains and muscles which can cause softness of breath, mild headaches, nausea which can then lead to unconsciousness and death. Birds often build their nests in chimneys that have not been swept and this can cause a blockage which prevents the gases from escaping out of the chimney, another reason to have your chimney swept. Many insurance companies are deciding not to pay out on claims for house fires if it is found that the fire was caused by a chimney that had not been swept by a professional chimney sweep. Chimney sweeps who have been trained by the Institute of Chimney Sweeps will always issue a certificate upon completion which tells the insurance company that the chimney has been swept by a professional and was classed as safe to use.
